Chapter 10
As I said this, Dominic completely broke down, his eyes full of remorse.
He began clawing himself hard, then pulled out a silver dagger and started stabbing his arm wildly.
“Maeve, I’m sorry. Would this make you feel better? I’ll do anything for you. Let me atone for my please? Give me one more chance…”
sins.
Before he could finish, I cut him off.
“You were forming a bond with my sister. Your photos were plastered all over my room. Every day while
I was being abused, I had to stare at them. I really wanted to die at that time.” I let out a cold laugh. “And now you decide to investigate.”
I ignored the three of them and walked away with Luke.
It wasn’t the easiest journey. All those judging eyes made it hard to breathe.
Everyone avoided me like I carried the wolf plague. Luke couldn’t find anywhere for us to stay.
Until my mother, who had been following us, broke down and explained loudly in the crowd, apologizing to me. Someone recorded it, broadcasting the whole scene, causing another storm on the Moon Network
“She is innocent! My older daughter Celeste set her up! She was forced! The culprits have been caught! Please stop! She’s innocent…” Along with the broadcast, the Blackthorn Pack and Ebonvale Pack released a joint statement clearing my name.
It documented the entire two–month ordeal, though what I’d been forced to endure was summarized in just a few words. The Moon Network exploded with apologies.
Almost every message read: “Maeve, I’m sorry for judging you.”
“Our mockery shouldn’t have been directed at the victim!”
“Maeve, sorry, heal well and find peace soon.”
“Maeve, I’m sorry. Wishing you a lifetime of strength and health, far from your monster pack!”
By the time I saw all this, I was already overseas, finally getting a thorough examination at a neutral territory healing den.
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Unfortunately, peace wasn’t in my future.
The healer told me my ability to bear pups was completely damaged. From long term starvation and being forced to consume wolfshane and various toxic herbs, my inner wolf was ruined too. Most of my silver burns would likely never fade.
Worst of all, I had developed Moon Sickness–a rare, fatal condition caused by severe trauma to a wolfs spirit.
When the diagnosis came back, Luke cried uncontrollably, holding me tight and begging me not to give up.
“The healers must be wrong, Maeve. Let’s check again, please. There must be some mistakes.”
But after multiple examinations, the results remained the same.
I didn’t cry. Instead, I smiled and wiped Luke’s tears, kissing his forehead just as he always did mine.
“It’s okay. At least I won’t die today, right? Luke, I can still be with you for a while longer.”
But the Moon Sickness progressed rapidly. I couldn’t eat or run, and often collapsed from the pain.
When my parents and Dominic learned I was dying, they tried to visit several times, but I avoided them.
I didn’t want to see them and wouldn’t know what to say.
Later, news came from home territory that every wolf who had hurt me had been mysteriously killed. The captured predator was Dominic.
When Lycan enforcers found him, he was still in wolf form, tearing at Celeste’s body like he’d feral.
Luke grew thinner each day, while I suddenly found renewed energy.
“Luke, please bury my ashes under a moon willow after I die.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t let anyone from my old pack know.”
“Yes.”
“Why do you only say ‘yes‘?”
I turned to look at him, for the first time showing a trace of my old dissatisfaction on my face.
He didn’t grow angry. Instead, he smiled.
As he smiled, tears covered his face. He reached out and covered my smiling eyes with his hand.
“As everything is Maeve’s wish.”
I was satisfied, my eyes crinkling with a smile.
“Then promise you won’t die with me. Live well, please?”
This time, I never heard his answer. In the last second before losing consciousness, I faintly heard him say:
“Love, that’s the only thing I can’t promise.”
